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DIY Turntable Motor

One way to make a motor for a homemade turntable is to use the motor that is used to power a portable CD player. To operate the turntable the platter needs to be able to spin freely. To spin the platter a valve guide and an intake valve for a motorcycle engine can be used. To do this you need to first make a base for the turntable.

Things You'll Need

Valve guide
Ruler
Power drill
Epoxy
5/16-inch ball bearing
Jigsaw
Pencil
Motorcycle engine intake valve
Compass
Portable CD player
Thread

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the width of the valve guide with the ruler. Drill a hole into the base of your turntable with the power drill.
- 2
  Apply epoxy to the sides of the valve guide and then place it in the hole. Allow four hours for the epoxy to dry. Drop the ball bearing into the valve guide.
- 3
  Cut a 12-inch diameter circle from a scrap piece of plywood with the jigsaw. Measure the center of the plywood circle and make a mark with the pencil. This is the platter for the turntable.
- 4
  Measure the diameter for the base of the intake valve. Draw a circle matching this diameter by using a compass. Apply epoxy to the bottom of the intake valve. Place the intake valve on the circle. Allow the epoxy to dry.
- 5
  Disassemble the body of a portable CD player. Remove the metal plate to expose the motor. Set the CD player 20 inches sway from the intake valve. This will act as pulley to turn the platter.
- 6
  Wrap thread around the stem of the CD player motor and around the stem of the intake valve. Press the ̶0;Play̶1; button on the CD player to begin spinning the turntable.

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